Seventeen years ago this fall, sixth-year Union County football coach Brian Allison was leading the Panthers to a school-record nine consecutive victories. Tonight, history repeated itself as Allison led Union County to its ninth straight victory – tying the mark set back in 2001.
“I never thought I’d have a (coaching) job for 17 years, much less win nine-straight games, 17 years apart,” Coach Allison said. “I never imagined breaking the record, much less being around long enough to tie my own record 17 years later.”
The similarities end right there. Friday’s 32-point win shared absolutely nothing in common with that narrow 25-20 victory over East Hall, some 17 years ago. Tonight, the Panthers (7-0, 4-0) scored on their first seven possessions during a 49-17 rout of Banks County that was over in the second quarter.
Oh, and by the way, Union County clinched a state playoff berth with the win and Pierson Allison accounted for six Panther touchdowns — either storyline could have provided a reliable lead for this article but nine-straight wins only comes around once every 17 years.
Pierson Allison opened the contest 7-for-7 through the air, en route to five first half scores — spotting Union County a 35-7 advantage at the break. Four of those touchdowns came through the air with a 44-yarder down the far-sideline to Sawyer Drake to begin the onslaught just 95 seconds in.
An 11-yard dime to Kyle Morlock in the back of the end zone with 6:31 left in the first made it a 14-0 game. Moments later, the opening frame was capped off with a 25-yard screen to Chayton Schafer that saw the senior WR/DB battle his way through the Leopard defense before stretching the ball across the plane for Union’s third touchdown of the quarter.
Morlock found pay-dirt again early in the second with a 17-yard catch-and-run over the middle, building a 28-0 margin. Banks responded with a lengthy scoring drive — aided by a 19-yard run on a fake punt — to get on the board at 28-7 with 3:44 left in the half.
Union answered with a three-play drive punctuated by a Pierson Allison 54-yard scamper on 3rd-and-8 — his fifth touchdown of the game at 1:39 before the break.
The Leopards opened the third with a methodical, 20-play, 80-yard scoring drive that spanned almost 10 minutes. With its lead trimmed to 35-14, the Panthers took over with 2:01 left in the period and needed just three plays as Pierson Allison took a read-option keeper 4 yards for his sixth touchdown. The score was set-up by a 56-yard carry from Chad Buzzard on the previous play.
Sophomore Jonah Daniel would tack on a 15-yard touchdown run at the 10:44 mark of the fourth before Banks County concluded the scoring with a field goal in the final minute.
For complete stats, a full game recap, more Coach Allison quotes plus a post-game Q&A with Schafer and Coleson Daniel, pick up a copy of the upcoming North Georgia News or visit http://www.nganews.com following the paper’s publication.
NGN Sports 